Combined cigarette case and lighter



Nov. 15, 1955 A. E. STEVENSON ETAL COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1952 INVENTORS STEVENSON Nov. 15, 1955Filed June 13, 1952 A. E. STEVENSON ET AL COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE ANDLIGHTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ALBERT E.STEVENSON BYHERSCHEL D.EICHLER QGJ w Hulk Nov. 15, 1955 A. E- STEVENSON ETAL 2,723,745

COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER Filed June 13, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTORS ALBERT E. STEVENSON BY HERSCHEL D. EICHLER United StatesPatent COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER Albert E. Stevenson,Kirkwood, and Herschel D. Eichler, Clayton, M0.; said Stevenson assignorto said Eichler Application June 13, 1952, Serial No. 293,380

17 Claims. (Cl. 206-414) This invention relates to a combined cigarettecase and lighter and, more particulary, to novel actuating means forselectively opening the case or operating the lighter.

The primary obejct of the present invention is to provide a case of thecharacter stated incorporating a gravity-actuated locking member whichselectively permits opening of the cigarette compartment or operation ofthe lighter in response to the attitude ofthe case to the vertical.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a case of thecharacter stated having a single operating lever for both the cigarettecompartment and the lighter which is disposed for facile operation by apressure-producing gripping of the case, so that the case may be easilymanipulated by one hand.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide acombined cigarette case and lighter having resilient members with apredetermined difierential in resistance whereby the lighter will not beinadvertently ignited upon opening of the cigarette compartment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combinedcigarette case and lighter having a cigarette compartment designed tohold a full package of cigarettes; which combined case is compact and ofsmooth, regular outline; which may be economically manufactured; andwhich is durable and reliable in usage.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (three sheets)- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a combined cigarette case and lighter constructed in accordancewith and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line 4-4of Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken along lines 5-5 and6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line3-3 of Figure 2 showing the case in opened condition;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line4-4 of Figure 3 showing the locking member in locked position;

'Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the lighter in opened position; I

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 10-10 ofFigure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified type ofcombined cigarette case and lighter 2,723,746 Patented Nov. 15, 1955constructed in accordance with and embodying the pres ent invention;

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 12-12 ofFigure 11;

Figure '13 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line12-12 of Figure 11 showing the case in opened condition; and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the lighterin opened position.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments ofthe present invention, A designates a case for cigarettes and a lighterwhich may be manufactured of metal or plastic and comprises a lowercompartment 1 for cigarettes and an upper compartment 2 for a lighterdesignated L. The cigarette compartment 1, being normally open at itsupper end, is provided with side walls 3, 3, a bottom wall 4, and endwalls 5, 5', with the lighter compartment 2 having a top wall 6 and sidewalls 7, 7', and end walls 8, 8', which are respectively co-planar withthe side walls 3, 3', and end walls 5, 5', of the cigarette compartment1 whereby the exterior surfaces of the case A will be substantiallycontinuous, when the case A is in closed condition as shown in Figure 1,to present a finished and compact appearance.

Formed at the lower edge of the side wall 7 of the compartment 2 and atthe upper edge of the side wall 3 of the compartment 1 are respectivelya plurality of aligned knuckles 9, 10, for receiving a pintle 11 inhinge formation to permit lateral outward swinging of the uppercompartment 2 in order that the open upper end of the compartment 1 willbe exposed for withdrawal thereof, or insertion therein, of cigarettes.Encirclingly disposed about the central portion of the pintle 11 is aspring 12 of the helical twist type, the ends of which bear against theouter faces of the side walls 7, 3, for biasing the compartments 1, 2,into case-closed relation.

The end wall 5 of the lower compartment 1 is substantially cut away toprovide an enlarged opening 13 for extension therethrough of the endplate 14 of a frameforming lever member or so-called gripper 15 havingside plates 16, 16, which are respectively disposed immediately inwardlyof, and parallel to, the side walls 3, 3. Extending between the sideplates 16, 16, adjacent their upper ends remote from the end plate 14 isa relatively narrow connecting strip 17, the upper portion of whichprojects above the top margins of the side plates 16, 16', and ismarginally arcuately contoured to provide a camming surface 0. The lever15 is mounted for rockable movement within the compartment 1 by opposedbearing pins 18, 18, projecting from the inner faces of the side walls3, 3', respectively, for engagement with suitable apertures provided inthe side plates 16, 16', in the upper ends thereof adjacent the endplate 14. Secured, as by rivets, to the inner face of the bottom wall 4of the compartment 1 is one end of a fiat spring 19 which is bent toprovide an inner leg 19' and an outwardly and downwardly extending outerleg 20 for surface bearing engagement against the end plate 14 fornormally urging the lower end thereof into outwardly rocked position, asmay best be seen in Figures 1 and 2.

The application of adequate pressure upon the end plate 14 forovercoming the tension of the spring 19 will cause the lever member 15to be pivoted about the bearing members 18, 18', for effecting upwardmovement of the camming surface 0 for purposes presently to bedescribed.

Release of external pressure upon the end plate 14 will cause the lever15, under the load upon the spring 19,- to be restored to its normal,outwardly rocked position. The case A is of such size as to permit easymanipulation within one hand of the user so that the force foroperpartition 33.

ating the lever may be applied by a tight gripping .or Squeezing action.

The compartment 1 is so dimensioned and designed as to provide interiorspace for receiving a package of cigarettes of the customary orcurrently popular size. Thus, the user need only remove the top foillayer from the cigarette package and insert the same bodily within thecompartment 1. As may be seen in the drawings, the sides of the lever 15are in immediate adjacency to the walls of the compartment 1 so that nountoward contact will occur with the cigarettes contained within thecompartment 1.

Suitably hinged to the side wall 3 adjacent its inner and upper marginas at 21 is one end of a bar 22 for extension across the top of thecompartment 1 between the side walls 3, 3, and being bevelled along itsfree end, as at 23, for slip locking engagement within a complementarydepression 24 formed in the side wall 3. The bar 22 is spaced from theend wall 5 a suitable distance to allow the cam c to move uninhibitedlytherethrough upon actuation of the lever 15. Substantially centrally ofthe bar 22 there is provided an aperture 25 in vertical alignment withan aperture 26 formed in the base plate 27 of the lighter compartment 2.Said base plate 27 is hingedly mounted at one of its ends, as at 23, tothe inner face of the end wall 8 and extends transversely across thelower end of the compartment 2 with its opposite or free end terminatingimmediately adjacent the end Wall 8' for presenting the undersurfaceportion thereof superjacent to the cam c for engagement thereby uponactuation of the lever 15 to cause the base plate 27 to be swungupwardly about the hinge 28. Said base plate 27 is normally biased intosupported disposition upon the bar 22 by a generally U-shaped pre-loadedflat spring 29 one leg 30 of which is secured, as by rivets 31, to theupper face of the base plate 27 and bears thereagainst while the otheror upper leg 32 bears against the undersurface of a partition 33 fixedlysecured within the compartment 2 in upwardly spaced, parallel relationto the ,base plate 27.

Formed in the partition 33 in registration with the apertures 25, 26, isan opening 34, the wall of which is contoured to provide a seat 35 forthe sphericallyformed upper end 36 of a pendulum-like locking member orselector 37 having a stem or shank 38 extending downwardly through theapertures 25, 26, 34, with a cone 39 being provided at its lowerprojecting end, the vertex of said cone 39 being presented downwardly(see Figures 4 and 8). The sphere 36 is disposed within itsseat for freeuniversal annular movement so that, upon tilting of the case A from anupright position, the locking member or selector 37 will, throughgravity, automatically assume its normal axially vertical position. Thelocking member or selector 37 is restrained from upward movement bydetent member 40 suitably provided upon the With reference to Figure 4,it will be seen that the diameter of the base of the cone 39 is lessthan that of the aperture 25 in the bar 22 whereby the same may be movedtherethrough for purposes to be described hereinbelow.

The partition 33 is provided with a depending flange 41 attached to theside wall 7 so that the bottom face of said flange 41 is disposedimmediately above the free end of the bar 22 for detaining abutmentthereagainst to prevent unauthorized upward movement of the bar 22,

should the free end thereof become inadvertently dislodged from thedepression 24 (see Figure 3).

Struck up from the base plate 27 at one side of its unsecured end is :1lug 42 for securement thereto of the lower end of a link 43 whichprojects upwardly through an enlarged opening 4-3 in the partition 33for pivotal connection at its upper end to a boss 45 provided in theskirt 46 of a closure or cover 47, hingedly mounted, as

at 43, in the top wall 6 of the compartment 2 for upward swingingmovement into open position for exposing the lighter L for use. Saidclosure or cover 47 will normally be maintained in closed position bythe base plate 27 being urged into resting disposition upon the bar 22by the pre-loaded spring 29.

Secured at its upper end to the under surface of the closure 47 formovement therewith is an arcuate rack 49 for meshing engagement with theratchet wheel 50 of a flint assembly generally denoted F and comprisinga housing 51 for suitably supporting a spark wheel 52, flint 53, andflint spring 54. Said housing 51 is rigidly held within an opening (notshown) in the partition 33 through which projects the lower cap-formingend 55 thereof. The said lower end 55 of the housing 51 terminates abovethe base plate 27, within which is cut a relatively large aperture 56for relative uninhibited movement therethrough of the said lower end 55when the base plate 27 is swung upwardly, as shown in Figure 9. The rack49 is yieldably held in engagement with the ratchet wheel Ell by aspring 57 so that spark-producing operation of the flint assembly F isassured when the rack 49 is carried upwardly upon opening of the closure37. Located proximate the spark wheel 52 is a wick 53 borne by a wickholder 59 projecting from one wall of a lighter fuel chamber 60 providedin one end of the compartment 2 and having a screw cap 61 threadedlyengaged in the end wall 8 to allow easy access to its interior forfilling and cleaning purposes.

In usage, with the case A held by the user in an upright or verticalposition, the longitudinal axis of the locking member or selector 37will, through gravity, be parallel to the vertical axis of the case A(see Figure 2). In this disposition of the case A, the bar 22 will be innormal relation to the locking member 37 with the aperture 25 presentedfor unimpeded movement therethrough of the cone 39. Actuation of thelever 15 by the application of inwardly directed pressure on the endplate 14 will cause the cam c to engage the base plate 27 and to effectupward swinging thereof in compression of the spring 29. This upwardforce upon the base plate 27 will also cause a torque to be applied tothe hinge spring 12. The resistance of the hinge spring 12 to twistingis designedly considerably less than that of the spring 29 tocompression so that adequate torque will have been developed by butlimited upward movement of the base plate 27. Thereupou, the uppercompartrnent 2 will beswung laterally outwardly to expose the open upperend of the cigarette compartment 1. The locking member or selector 37will be perforce carried with the compartment it as it swings intocase-open position, with the cone 39 moving unimpededly through theaperture 25.

The upward rocking of the base plate 27 will have been completed, by theopening of the case A, before the linl .43 has been displacedsufiiciently upwardly to cause opening of the lighter closure 47, sothat the lighter L will be inoperative when the compartment 1 is inopened condition. l e requisite differential in the resistance of thesprings 12 and 29 is efiected by the pro-loading of the flat spring 29.With the lighter compartment 2 in outwardly swung position, the bar 22may then be slipped from engagement in the depression 24 and swungupwardly about the hinge 21 to allow full access to the cigarettecompartment 1. To maintain the lighter compartment 1 in case-openposition, the user must retain pressure upon the lever 35 so thatpremature closing of the case A is prevented by abutment of the end ofthe cam c against the adjacent portion of the bascplate 2'1 (see Figure7). Release of pressure on the lever 15 will permit the lightercompartment 2 to return to case-closed position by thehinge spring 1'2.

The conicalcontour of the lower end of the selector 1'57 will assurepositive return thereof through the aperture 25 when the case A isrestored to closed condition upon release or" the lever 15.

Should the user desire to operate the lighter L, the case A is held in aposition tilted from the vertical in any direction, as shown in Figure9, whereby the locking member or selector 37 will, through gravity,swing toward vertical position. Potentially, the arc of swing would becommensurate with the degree of tilt of the case A. However, the limitof such pendulum-like action of the looking member 37 will be determinedby the surface abutting engagement of the upwardly presented face of thecone 39 with the under face of the bar 22 adjacent the aperture 25 (seeFigures 8 and 9) thereby locking the lighter compartment 2 to the bar22, and hence to the cigarette compartment 1. Upon actuation of thelever 15 with consequent upward pivoting of the base plate 27, thelighter compartment 2 will now be prevented from outward swingingdespite the torque developed upon the hinge sping 12. Thus, thecontinuous pressure upon the lever 15 will efiect full upward movementof the base plate 27 with resulting full compression of the spring 29with the link 43 being carried upwardly to cause the closure 47 to beswung about its hinge 48 into open position. The rack 49 will be carriedupwardly by the closure 47 and thereby cause rotation of the ratchetwheel 50 for spark production by the flint assembly F to ignite the wick58. Therefore, opening of the closure 47 will automatically cause thelighter L to be ignited for ready use.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the case A is adapted tobe easily and elfectively handled within one hand of the user and thatby the unique gravityactuated locking means therein provided, a meretwist of the wrist will selectively permit the upper compartment 2 to beswung outwardly to allow access to the cigarette compartment 1 or causethe compartments to be maintained in closed relation with the lighter Lbeing ignited for ready use.

Referring now to Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14, a modified type of combinedcigarette case and lighter is presented comprising a case A, hingedcompartments 1', 2, lever 15', cam c, hinged base plate 27, spring 29,partition 33, lighter L, flint assembly F, and link-actuated closure 47,all being similar in every respect to the corresponding parts of thecase A above described.

\ Pivotally mounted at its lower end as at 62, to the central portion ofthe inner face of the end wall near the upper end thereof of thecompartment 1', is a vertically presented flat bar 63 extending upwardlyinto the compartment 2 through aligned openings 64, 65, provided in thebase plate 27 and partition 33, respectively. In the upper portion ofthe bar 63, there is formed an elongated vertical aperture 66 forrelative movement therealong of a pin 67 fixed in the side wall '7' inupwardly spaced relation to the partition 33. At its upper extremity,which is proximate the top wall 6, the bar 63 is suitably bent to definea generally four-sided, open-ended receptacle 68 having parallel top andbottom sides 69, 70, re-

spectively. Formed centrally in the bottom side 70 is an aperture 71through which freely projects downwardly the stem portion 72 of apendulum-like locking member or selector 73 having a spherical headportion 74 disposed within the receptacle 68 and being free for rockablemovement. The top side 69 of the receptacle 68 serves as a detent toprevent untoward upward movement of the locking member 73, the lower endof which terminates immediately upwardly of the partition 33' (seeFigure 11) and is normally axially aligned with registering apertures75, '76, provided in the partition 33 and base plate 27, respectively,each of said apertures 75, 76, being of greater diameter than the stemportion 72 and with that of the aperture 76 being relatively increased.a

In usage, when the case A is held in an upright or truly verticalposition, as indicated in Figure 11, the stem portion 72 of the lockingmember 73 will be axially aligned with the apertures 75, 76, in the baseplate 27 and partition 33, so that upon swinging of the uppercompartment 2 into case-open position, responsive to operation of thelever 15, the stem portion 72 will be moved relatively through theaforesaid apertures 75, 76, since the base 63 will pivot about its lowerend 62 with the pin 67 rising relatively upwardly within the slot-likeaperture 66, as shown in Figure 13.

When the case A is held in a position which is tilted with respect tothe vertical (see Figure 14) the locking member 73 will be swung,through gravity, to attempt to recover its vertical position of rest,which swinging movement will cause it to move out of alignment with theapertures 76, 75, and abuttingly engage at its lower end against theupper face of the partition 33'. Thus, upon actuation of the lever 15,the bar 63 will be prevented from pivotal action about the point 62 bythe locking engagement between the locking member 73 and the upper faceof the partition 33, so that the upper compartment 2' is held againstoutward swinging movement by upward pivotal movement of the base plate27'. Consequently, the base plate 27 may be moved fully upwardly underaction of the lever 15 to thereby cause opening of the closure 47 of thecompartment 2' with attendant operation of the lighter L.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thecombined cigarette case and lighter may be made and substituted forthose herein shown and described without departing from the nature andprinciple of the present invention.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments hinged together for lateral outward swinging of the uppercompartment, a pendulumlike locking member suspended in said uppercompartment for movement responsive to gravity and being norrnallyaxially parallel to the case, and means for engaging said locking memberwhen the case is presented so that the longitudinal axis of said lockingmember and that of the case are in angular relation whereby the uppercompartment is prevented from being swung into caseopen position.

2. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments hinged together for lateral outward swinging of the uppercompartment, a pendulum-like locking member supported at its upper endwithin said upper compartment and having a depending portion forextension into said lower compartment, said locking member beingnormally longitudinally axially parallel to the case and being sosupported that it is free for swinging movement responsive to gravity,and a cooperative locking member disposed in said lower compartment andadapted for engagement with said locking member to lock said upper andlower compartments together when the case is so presented as to causeits longitudinal axis to be angularly related to that of the lockingmember whereby outward swinging of the upper compartment is prevented.

3. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments hinged together for lateral outward swinging 0f the uppercompartment, a pendulumlike locking member supported at its upper endwithin said upper compartment and having a depending portion forextension into said lower compartment, said locking member beingnormally longitudinally axially parallel to the case and being sosupported that it is free for swinging movement responsive to gravity,and a member secured to said lower compartment and having an openingthrough which the locking member extends, said opening being normallyaxially aligned with said locking member whereby upon presenting thecase so that the longitudinal axis thereof is angularly related to thatof the locking member said locking member will abuttingly engage themember adjacent the opening to thereby cause the upper and lowercompartments to be locked together for preventing outward swinging ofthe upper compartment.

4. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments hinged together for lateral outward swinging of the uppercompartment, an operating lever rockably mounted in the lowercompartment and having one end projecting outwardly through an openingtherein for convenient operation, a plate member forming the lower endof said upper compartment and engageable on its undersurface with theother end of said lever, said plate member being pivotally mounted atone of its ends for upward swinging movement responsive to operation ofsaid lever, a closure provided for said upper compartment and beinghingedly mounted for upward swinging movement in a direction opposite tothat of the plate member, linkage means connecting said closure and saidplate whereby upon operation of said lever said closure will be swungopen, and a resilient member urging said plate downwardly for norrlraliymaintaining the closure in closed relation and restoring said plate indownward position upon release of the lever with consequent closing ofthe closure.

5. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments hinged together for lateral outward swinging of the uppercompartment, spring means for biasing said upper and lower compartmentsinto case closed relation, an operating member disposed in said lowercompartment for rockable movement, a plate pivotally mounted in thelower end of said upper compartment, and a resilient member for normallybiasing said plate downwardly in position for abutment by said operatingmember upon operative rocking of the same whereby said plate is swungupwardly in compression of said resilient member and in applying atorque on said spring means, said resilient member being preloaded apredetermined amount so that the resistance of the spring means will beovercome for swinging of the upper compartment into case-open positionbefore said resilient member is fully compressed.

6. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments hinged together for outward laterally swinging of the uppercompartment to permit access to the lower compartment, a lever mountedin said lower compartment for rockable movement, a plate normallydefining the bottom of said upper compartment hingedly mounted in thelower end thereof for upward swinging movement responsive to operationof the lever, spring means associated with the hinged connection of saidcompartments for biasing same into caseclosed relation, a compressiveresilient member disposed in said upper compartment for normally biasingsaid plate downwardly, said resilient member being pre-loaded apredetermined amount so that upon upward pivotal movement of said platethe torque applied to said spring means will be adequate for effectingopening swinging of said upper compartment before said resilient memberis fully compressed, a locking member suspended at its upper end in theupper compartment for swinging movement responsive to gravity, andcooperative means for engaging said locking member when the case ispresented in a position at an angle to the vertical to prevent outwardswinging of the upper compartment upon operation of the lever and whichis adapted to be out of engagement with said locking member when thecase is held in upright position so that said upper compartment mayswing outwardly upon operation of said lever.

7. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments hinged together for outboard laterally swinging of theupper compartment to permit access to the lower compartment, a levermounted in said lower compartment for rockable movement, a platenormally defining the bottom of said upper compartment hingedly mountedin the lower end thereof for upward swinging movement responsive tooperation of the lever, a closure member hingedly mounted in said uppercornpartment, means connecting said closure and plate for elliectingopening of said closure when said plate is swung to the upper limit ofits pivotal movement, a resilient member bearing against said plate forurging same downwardly to maintain the closure in normally closedposition, a locking member suspended at its upper end in said uppercompartment for swinging movement responsive to gravity, and cooperativelocking means adapted to be in disengaged relation to said lockingmember when the case is presented in an upright position to permitoutward swinging of the upper compartment before the plate has beenmoved to its upper limit and being further adapted to engage saidlocking member when said case is presented in tilted relation to thevertical for preventing outward swinging of said upper compartment andallowing full upward movement of said plate to cause the closure toopened.

8. A container comprising a case having normally upper and loweronpartments hinged together for outward swinging of the uppercompartment to permit access to said lower compartment, a lever mountedin said lower compartment for rockable movement, a plate pivotallymounted in the upper compartment for pivotal movement responsive tooperation of the lever, a partition member fixedly mounted in the uppercompartment in normally spaced relation to said plate, said plate andsaid partition having registering openings, a support member engaged tosaid lower compartment and projecting into said upper compartment, andan elongated locking member suspended at its upper end to the upperportion of said support member for swinging movement responsive togravity, said loosing member being axially aligned with said registeringopenings when the case is in upright position to permit relativemovement therethrough when the upper compartment is swung into case-openposition and being adapted to engage said partition when the case ismaintained in tilted relation to the vertical to prevent swinging ofsaid upper compartment.

9. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments hinged together for outward swinging of the uppercompartment to permit access to said lower compartment, a lever mountedin said lower compartment for rockable movement, a plate pivotallymounted in the upper compartment for pivotal movement responsive tooperation of the lever, means for eltecting outward swinging of theupper compartment upon operation of the lever, a partition memberfixedly mounted in the upper compartment in spaced relation to saidplate, a bar member mounted on said lower compartment, said plate,partition, and bar member having registering openings, a pendulum-likelocking member seated for free angular movement at its upper end in saidpartition for projection through said registering openings whereby whenthe case is presented in upright position said locking member may becarried through the opening in said bar upon outward swinging of saidupper compartment responsive to operation of the lever, and meansprovided on said locking member for engaging said bar when the case ispresented at an angle to the vertical for preventing outward swinging ofsaid upper compartment upon operation of the lever.

10. A container for cigarettes and a lighter comprising a case having anormally lower compartment for receiving cigarettes and a normally uppercompartment for a lighter, said compartments being hinged together foroutward lateral swinging of the upper compartment to permit access tothe lower compartment, a closure hingedly mounted in said uppercompartment for normal vertical swinging movement, a pyrophoric lightermounted in said upper compartment, means connecting said lighter andsaid closure whereby upon opening of said closure said lighter will beignited, a member mounted in the said upper compartment for pivotalmovement for efiecting outward swinging of said upper compartment, linkmeans connecting said member and said closure, an operating levermounted in the lower compartment adapted to effect pivotal movement ofsaid member upon operation, and gravity-actuated locking means adaptedupon operation of the lever to selectively permit outward swinging ofthe upper compartment when the case is in an upright position andlighter-operating opening of said closure when the case is in angularrelation to upright position.

11. A container for cigarettes and a lighter comprising a case having anormally lower compartment for receiving cigarettes and a normally uppercompartment for a lighter, said compartments being hinged together foroutward lateral swinging of the upper'compartment to permit access tothe lower compartment, spring means associated with the hingedconnection of said compartments for urging same into case closedrelation, a closure hingedly mounted in said upper compartment fornormal vertical swinging movement, a pyrophoric lighter mounted in saidupper compartment, means connecting said lighter and said closurewhereby upon opening of said closure said lighter will be ignited, amember mounted in said upper compartment for upward swinging movementfor applying a torque to said spring means for outward swinging of saidupper compartment, link means connecting said member and said closure, aresilient member disposed for biasing said member downwardly for urgingsaid closure into closed position, an operating lever mounted in thelower compartment adapted upon operation to engage said member forcausing upward movement thereof, and gravityactuated locking meansadapted upon operation of the lever to selectively permit outwardswinging of the upper compartment when the case is in an uprightposition and lighter-operating opening of said closure when the case isin angular relation to upright position.

12. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments, an operating lever rockably mounted in the lowercompartment and having one end projecting outwardly through an openingtherein for convenient operation, a plate member at the lower end ofsaid upper compartment and defining a bottom Wall therefor beingengageable on its undersurface with the other end of said lever, saidplate member being hingedly mounted at one of its ends for upwardswinging movement responsive to operation of said lever, a closureprovided in the upper end of said upper compartment spacedly from saidplate member, said closure being hingedly mounted for upward swinging ina direction opposite to that of the plate member, and linkage meansconnecting said closure and said plate whereby upon operation of saidlever said closure will be swung open.

13. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments, an operating lever rockably mounted in the lowercompartment and having one end projecting outwardly through an openingtherein for convenient operation, a plate member at the lower end ofsaid upper compartment and defining a bottom wall therefor, said platemember being hingedly mounted at one of its ends with the opposite endbeing free for upward swinging movement, said plate member beingengageable on its undersurface adjacent its free end with the other endof said lever for upward swinging responsive to operation of said lever,a closure in the upper end of said upper compartment in upwardly spacedrelation to said plate member, said closure being hingedly mounted forupward swinging movement in a direction opposite to that of the platemember, linkage means connecting said closure and said plate wherebyupon operation of said lever said closure will be swung open, and aresilient member urging said plate downwardly for normally maintainingthe closure in closed relation and restoring said plate in downwardposition upon release of the lever with consequent closing of theclosure.

14. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments, an operating lever rockably mounted in the lowercompartment and having one end projecting outwardly through an openingtherein for convenient operation, a plate member at the lower end ofsaid upper compartment and defining a bottom wall therefor, said platemember being hingedly mounted at one of its ends with the opposite endbeing free for upward swinging movement, said plate member beingengageable on its undersurface adjacent its free end with the other endof said lever for upward swinging responsive to operation of said lever,a closure in the upper end of said upper compartment in upwardlyspacedrelation to said plate member, said closure being hingedly mountedat one of its ends for upward swinging movement in a direction oppositeto that of the plate member, and an upwardly extending link pivotallymounted at its lower end on said plate member adjacent its free end andat its upper end to said closure adjacent its hinged end whereby uponoperation of said lever said link will be directed upwardly to eifectopening of said closure.

15. A container comprising a case having nomially upper and lowercompartments hinged together for lateral outward swinging of the uppercompartment, a pendulumlike looking member supported at its upper endwithin said upper compartment and having a depending portion forextension into said lower compartment, said locking member beingnormally longitudinally axially parallel to the case and being sosupported that it is free for swinging movement responsive to gravity,and a member secured to one side of, and extending into, said lowercompartment and having an opening through which the locking memberextends, said locking member having an enlarged lower end having a widthless than that of the said opening, said opening being normally axiallyaligned with said locking member whereby upon presenting the case sothat the longitudinal axis thereof is angularly related to that of thelocking member the enlarged head of said locking member will abuttinglyengage the underface of said member adjacent the opening to therebycause the upper and lower compartments to be locked together forpreventing outward swinging of the upper compartment.

16. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments hinged together for lateral outward swinging of the uppercompartment, a pendulumlike looking member supported at its upper endwithin said upper compartment and having a depending portion forextension into said lower compartment, said locking member beingnormally longitudinally axially parallel to the case and being sosupported that it is free for swinging movement responsive to gravity, afiat member secured to one side of, and extending into, said lowercompartment and having an opening through which the locking memberprojects, and an enlarged cone member mounted on the projecting lowerend of said locking member the base of said cone being presentedupwardly and having a diameter less than that of said opening, saidopening being normally axially aligned with said locking member wherebyupon presenting the case so that the longitudinal axis thereof isangularly related to that of the locking member the cone member will bedisposed so that its base surface will be in tight surface abuttingengagement with the undersurface of said member adjacent the opening tothereby cause the upper and lower compartments to be locked together forpreventing outward swinging of the upper compartment.

17. A container comprising a case having normally upper and lowercompartments hinged together for outward swinging of the uppercompartment to permit access to said lower compartment, a partitionmember fixedly mounted in the upper compartment in downwardly spacedrelation to the upper end of said compartment, said partition having anopening, a support member swingably engaged at its lower end to one sideof said lower compartment and projecting into said upper compartment,and an elongated locking member suspended at its upper end to the upperportion of said support member for swinging movement responsive togravity, the lower end of said locking member terminating upwardly ofsaid partition and being axially aligned with the opening therein whenthe case is in upright position to permit relative movement therethroughupon swinging of said support member when the upper compartment is swunginto caseopen position and abuttingly engaging at its lower end theupper surface of said partition when the case is maintained in tiltedrelation to the vertical to prevent swinging of said upper compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS BruckMar. 1, 1904 Maisto Aug. 18, 1931 Tandy Sept. 15, 1936 Wright Feb. 23,1937 Brown Oct. 16, 1945

